Updating the Lights in my Barn... LED the best?

[lman]

I used some of these.
https://www.amazon.com/Warehouse-In...FR0EFY94YSM&psc=1&refRID=WJX2TAJD9FR0EFY94YSM

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm a big fan of the Costco 4ft LED lights. For the past couple of years the price ranges from $19.99 to $29.99ea a couple cycles throughout the year. Just before Xmas they dropped to $17.99 so I imagine that will be the new low. I have purchased 8 and have installed 6 in my two garage/shop and they light the place amazingly well with very little power draw.

 

[RNeumann]

I’ve had good luck with the LED UFOs. They have online lumen calculators that will guide you to the size you need. I just wire in plugs on the ceiling and attach the UFOs to an eye bolt with a carabiner.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I'm a big fan of the Costco 4ft LED lights. For the past couple of years the price ranges from $19.99 to $29.99ea a couple cycles throughout the year. Just before Xmas they dropped to $17.99 so I imagine that will be the new low. I have purchased 8 and have installed 6 in my two garage/shop and they light the place amazingly well with very little power draw.

I used 4' LEDs in my new shop. They are very bright, and were cheap.

 

[EarPlug]

I used these from SuperBrightLEDS.com

4W High Output LED Bulb - 5,2 Lumens - E26/E27 Commercial & Residential Retrofit Light - 15W Metal Halide Equivalent - 4K | Super Bright LEDs

View attachment 639171

 

[clemsonfor]

I got a 4 foot LED shop light at Walmart on black Friday. It was like $12 and way brighter than similar florescent. I don't remember the lumens so it may be dimmer?

I also bought some cheap LED 4 foot tubes and rewired some fixtures without ballasts in my carport. There way brighter.

Walmart also has some LED bulbs. There great value brand in the liggt bulb section. There just to be placed in the fixtures. Ballasts have to be good but they just pop in and use the existing fixture and wireing. They cost $8 for two bulbs.

 

[PILOON]

I have one set of Cosco LED's installed, a pair of 8 ft regular tubes and a few 4 inch Halogens here and there so I can compare.

The LED tubes are instant on, super bright and very satisfactory.
Not affected by cold like the 8 ft tubes that flicker and occasionally refuse to light. (my shop is kept just above freezing)

Heck the pair of LED's are as bright as the 300 watt halogen!

INMHO LED's in this day and age are the only way to go!

LOL, like comparing 60 watt incandescent to a kerosene lantern!

 

[CobyRupert]

I'm in the same boat as u i have 4 foot lights and looking to replace my shop is like a cave

Lighting is a science and art as it also involves human's perceptions. There are calculation tools out there. Different fixtures can distribute the same amount of light differently and can effect our perception. (Ever notice outside lighting actually makes darker areas "darker".) Different lamps (color spectrum) effects our perception also.

Do you mean it's "like a cave" because of the low levels of light, or
sometimes when fixtures are hung, there is darkness above the fixture, dark on the ceiling, and this gives a "cave" perception.

If you notice in big box stores, they usually have fixtures that give off a percentage of "uplight". The effect is a big open completely lighted space, light more evenly distributed as it reflects, instead of a "cave" with dark ceiling and "cones" of down light. This makes you happier & buy more (so the theory goes).
:2cents:

 

[pmsmechanic]

I replaced 4' fluorescent lights with led bulbs in my workshop. I was frustrated because of all the shadows. So when 4' led's went on sale at Princess Auto the bulbs were replaced with those. A lot better light and no more shadows.

 

[shooterdon]

Another user of 4' LED's. I got mine to light up a reloading shop I am setting up. About 14x20 What a difference!

The ones I got can be linked together (up to 10) and I used 4 - two over each bench arear. 5000 lumens and $70 from Amazon. Used an adapter that turns the overhead ceramic fixture into a plug so they come on with the existing light switch. Super simply install. My buddy was so impressed he bought 12 for his three car garage.